Have you ever noticed that curious "little house on top of the house" perched on the roofs of many old country homes in Tuscany? In this new episode of Cortona: City of Hidden Treasures, we're exploring the Case Leopoldine, the "silent guardians" of the Val di Chiana. Born out of the massive land reclamation projects commissioned by Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Lorraine, these structures were much more than just simple homes—they were true masterpieces of agricultural ingenuity and rural architecture. Together with landscape architect Silvia Neri, we'll discover:

• How the ground floor was laid out (dedicated to livestock and stunning vaulted stables).
• The daily life of the farming families on the upper floor, who would gather around a large central hearth.
• The true purpose of the mysterious Torre Colombaia (dovecote tower) on the roof: a brilliant way to source free food and produce "guano," a highly potent natural fertilizer for the fields!

A fascinating journey back in time to an era where every single architectural element served a vital purpose.